Minnesota is in an uproar after ICE neutralized a threat. But now a different liberal state is getting in on the action.
Because another attack on ICE agents ended in shots fired.
Federal Agents Defend Against Vehicle Assault in Portland Traffic Stop
In a high-stakes operation in Portland, Oregon, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents opened fire on two alleged members of the notorious Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang after the driver attempted to weaponize their vehicle during a targeted traffic stop.
The incident unfolded around 2:20 p.m. local time near Northeast 146th Avenue and East Burnside Street, where agents, after identifying themselves, faced an immediate threat as the driver accelerated toward them.
Fearing for his life, a CBP agent fired defensive rounds, wounding the driver—a confirmed gang member—and the passenger, who is linked to the gang’s prostitution ring and recent shootings in the area.
The suspects fled but were later located by Portland police, who applied tourniquets and transported them to a hospital; their conditions remain undisclosed. The FBI is now leading the investigation into this latest example of the perilous conditions federal immigration officers encounter while targeting dangerous criminal networks.
Escalating Threats Echo Recent Deadly Encounter in Minneapolis
This shooting comes just one day after an ICE agent in Minneapolis fatally shot 37-year-old anti-ICE activist Renee Nicole Good, who had relocated to the city last year and connected with resistance groups through her 6-year-old son’s charter school, which emphasizes social justice and activism.
Video evidence depicted Good striking the officer with her car before he discharged his weapon through the window in self-defense.
President Trump and DHS officials have labeled her a “domestic terrorist,” affirming the agent’s actions were justified amid rising hostilities.
At a vigil, attendee Leesa, whose child attends the same school, reflected, “She was a warrior. She died doing what was right,” and “I know she was doing the right thing. I watched the video plenty of times but I also know in my heart the woman she was, she was doing everything right.”
DHS data reveals a staggering 3,200% increase in vehicle attacks on ICE officers from January 21, 2025, to January 7, 2026—with 66 incidents compared to just two the prior year—alongside a 1,347% rise in overall assaults and an 8,000% surge in death threats during President Trump’s second term, trends federal officials attribute to inflammatory rhetoric from sanctuary city leaders that endangers those protecting communities from violent criminals.
Local Officials Criticize Amid Calls for Calm and Accountability
Portland Police Chief Bob Day addressed the community, stating, “We are still in the early stages of this incident,” and “We understand this heightened emotion and tension many are feeling in the wake of the shooting in Minneapolis, but I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more.”
He clarified that local police played no role in the federal operation. However, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson condemned ICE, demanding a halt to their activities pending review, and said at a press conference, “Violence in our community is devastating; these are not statistics, they are human beings,” and “Our community deserves answers, our community deserves accountability, and most of all, our community deserves peace. Portland is not a training ground for militarized agents. When the administration talks about using full force, we are seeing what it means in our streets.”
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek called it “another terrible unnecessary violent event instigated by the reckless agenda of the Trump administration” and accused DHS of compromising public safety. State Senator Kayse Jama added, “We do not need you. You’re not welcome here and you need to get the h*ll out of our community.”
Despite the backlash, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin reiterated that such operations are essential to removing “the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens,” vowing that agents will not be deterred in their critical mission.
